On the 3rd of April, i shared a friends experience at the MMA2 in a post titled "An Encounter With Immigration Officers at MMA2", If you are yet to read it, here's the link: http://princcehood.blogspot.com/2014/04/an-encounter-with-immigration-officers.html
That event occurred in 2012. Fast forward to 2014.
Again Tosin was travelling to the same location and this time around he made sure he had covered every possible scenario. He had every possible document that could be requested for.
Letter of invitation from the firm abroad, letter of introduction from his company here in Nigeria, he made sure he carried nothing above the maximum P.T.A specified by law, had a valid yellow card (He took the 3 mandatory immunizations at the appropriate time), company ID card etc.
The young fellow was determined not to go through the unpalatable incident that occurred 2 years back.
He had everything in place so what could have gone wrong this time? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! Everything went smoothly and fine without hitches .....
except of course the kind of embarrassing begging that goes on at the international airport.
Where does the begging occur? EVERYWHERE!!!
Point 1: As Tosin approached the departure hall, fierce looking gunmen, sorry, Mobile policemen accosted him at the entrance, asked for his travel documents which he provided. after going through the documents and ascertaining that they were OK, the policemen asked. Oga, today na Friday o! We are loyal, anything for your people ? (Culprits: Mobile Policemen)
Point 2: At the check-in counter, there were 5-6 Immigration officers at the counter so Tosin approached one of them when it was his turn with the baggage he was about to check-in, the Officer did a cursory eye scan on the contents of the box and asked, where are you traveling to? what is the purpose of your travelling? of course Tosin answered both questions politely but firmly with a blank facial expression. Then the officers then asked, Oga you know say today na Friday, find your boys something for the weekend. (Culprits: Immigration Officers)
Point 3: The security check area, This is the main point where Tosin had the encounter with the Immigration in 2012 so he was prepared. They requested for his travel documents which he provided, the he passed his hand luggage and all metal/electronic items on him through the scanners and walked through the metal detector doors. at the other end of the door, he was given a pat down by the officer waiting at the other end and when he was certified OK, the officer asked : You no go find something for you man before you go?
(Culprit: Immigration Officer)
Point 4: Tosin now proceeded to the other end of the scanning machine to retrieve his belongings. On getting there, he was ordered to empty the contents of his laptop bag and pass everything through the scanner again. Being a Techie , the laptop bag was filled with hard drives, pen drives, camera, Multi-USB adapters, spare wrist watch, mobile phone, an iPad, chargers etc. so he was not surprised at the 2nd scan. However, when the 2nd scan was in progress officer attending to him asked. Wetin we dey take do this weekend nau? You suppose shake body for your guy. (Culprit: Immigration Officer)
Point 5: Then he proceeded to the next point, just at the exit of the scanning point. 2 officers were waiting there, they asked Tosin for his purpose of travelling, his destination and the duration of travelling. He answered. They also scanned his travel documents and you know what comes next after that right ? No need to expatiate. (Culprits: Immigration Officers)
Point 6: They usually say a beggar has no choice right ? Not at this next point. The men at the entrance to the departure gates summoned Tosin and his colleague to their desk and asked for their purpose of travelling, destination and the duration of travelling. Of course they answered. Then they added, how much are you travelling with? I hope you are aware that there is a maximum you can carry while traveling they asked? Tosin and his colleague answered all questions rightly so they proceeded to ask the usual last question. Oga wetin we go take do this weekend? Tosin's colleague, Ibo boy confirmed brought out #200 and said take coke money. They officers replied, do you think we are beggars here? what kind of insult is this? Oga bring out correct money, they increased it to #500, then #1,000 still they officers refused. Then one of them asked, don't you have foreign currency? We are bigger than all these things you are bringing out! SO Tosin and colleague then added another #1000 to make it #2,000 and asked them to manage it. (Culprits: No idea! Either NDLEA, EFCC, Immigration or customs, no uniforms)
Free at last !!!!
says who?
Point 7: At the boarding gates, some men and women in white shirts/black pants/skirts with reflector jackets were giving each traveler a body pat down before they were allowed to proceed for boarding and just as they finished their search, one of them asked the now almost regular question, bros find you boy something for the weekend, today na Friday. (Culprits: Who knows? NAHCO? Airport staff?)
Imagine the rigors you go through just to travel. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. The fact that you are travelling out automatically means you must be loaded.
We no dey carry last!!!!
Watch out for the concluding part of the this post. Organised and corporate begging at MMA2 - The Arrival
That event occurred in 2012. Fast forward to 2014.
Again Tosin was travelling to the same location and this time around he made sure he had covered every possible scenario. He had every possible document that could be requested for.
Letter of invitation from the firm abroad, letter of introduction from his company here in Nigeria, he made sure he carried nothing above the maximum P.T.A specified by law, had a valid yellow card (He took the 3 mandatory immunizations at the appropriate time), company ID card etc.
The young fellow was determined not to go through the unpalatable incident that occurred 2 years back.
He had everything in place so what could have gone wrong this time? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! Everything went smoothly and fine without hitches .....
except of course the kind of embarrassing begging that goes on at the international airport.
Where does the begging occur? EVERYWHERE!!!
 |
| Source: Web |
Point 1: As Tosin approached the departure hall, fierce looking gunmen, sorry, Mobile policemen accosted him at the entrance, asked for his travel documents which he provided. after going through the documents and ascertaining that they were OK, the policemen asked. Oga, today na Friday o! We are loyal, anything for your people ? (Culprits: Mobile Policemen)
Point 2: At the check-in counter, there were 5-6 Immigration officers at the counter so Tosin approached one of them when it was his turn with the baggage he was about to check-in, the Officer did a cursory eye scan on the contents of the box and asked, where are you traveling to? what is the purpose of your travelling? of course Tosin answered both questions politely but firmly with a blank facial expression. Then the officers then asked, Oga you know say today na Friday, find your boys something for the weekend. (Culprits: Immigration Officers)
Point 3: The security check area, This is the main point where Tosin had the encounter with the Immigration in 2012 so he was prepared. They requested for his travel documents which he provided, the he passed his hand luggage and all metal/electronic items on him through the scanners and walked through the metal detector doors. at the other end of the door, he was given a pat down by the officer waiting at the other end and when he was certified OK, the officer asked : You no go find something for you man before you go?
(Culprit: Immigration Officer)
Point 4: Tosin now proceeded to the other end of the scanning machine to retrieve his belongings. On getting there, he was ordered to empty the contents of his laptop bag and pass everything through the scanner again. Being a Techie , the laptop bag was filled with hard drives, pen drives, camera, Multi-USB adapters, spare wrist watch, mobile phone, an iPad, chargers etc. so he was not surprised at the 2nd scan. However, when the 2nd scan was in progress officer attending to him asked. Wetin we dey take do this weekend nau? You suppose shake body for your guy. (Culprit: Immigration Officer)
Point 5: Then he proceeded to the next point, just at the exit of the scanning point. 2 officers were waiting there, they asked Tosin for his purpose of travelling, his destination and the duration of travelling. He answered. They also scanned his travel documents and you know what comes next after that right ? No need to expatiate. (Culprits: Immigration Officers)
Point 6: They usually say a beggar has no choice right ? Not at this next point. The men at the entrance to the departure gates summoned Tosin and his colleague to their desk and asked for their purpose of travelling, destination and the duration of travelling. Of course they answered. Then they added, how much are you travelling with? I hope you are aware that there is a maximum you can carry while traveling they asked? Tosin and his colleague answered all questions rightly so they proceeded to ask the usual last question. Oga wetin we go take do this weekend? Tosin's colleague, Ibo boy confirmed brought out #200 and said take coke money. They officers replied, do you think we are beggars here? what kind of insult is this? Oga bring out correct money, they increased it to #500, then #1,000 still they officers refused. Then one of them asked, don't you have foreign currency? We are bigger than all these things you are bringing out! SO Tosin and colleague then added another #1000 to make it #2,000 and asked them to manage it. (Culprits: No idea! Either NDLEA, EFCC, Immigration or customs, no uniforms)
 |
| Source: Web |
Free at last !!!!
says who?
Point 7: At the boarding gates, some men and women in white shirts/black pants/skirts with reflector jackets were giving each traveler a body pat down before they were allowed to proceed for boarding and just as they finished their search, one of them asked the now almost regular question, bros find you boy something for the weekend, today na Friday. (Culprits: Who knows? NAHCO? Airport staff?)
Imagine the rigors you go through just to travel. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. The fact that you are travelling out automatically means you must be loaded.
We no dey carry last!!!!
Watch out for the concluding part of the this post. Organised and corporate begging at MMA2 - The Arrival
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